Waterbird Wedensday week 3 - Grey Heron
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is the commonest heron in the British Isles. It can be seen on most waterbodies, from tiny streams to large lakes. They nest in communally in heronries high up in trees. Around 13'000 pairs nest in the UK each year. They mainly feed on fish, which they catch with their long, sharp bills, but sometimes they will find other prey such as voles or ducklings.
Identification
The Grey heron is a very familiar species, which can be identified in flight by it's distinctive wing pattern. The primaries, primary coverts, alula and secondaries are all dark grey, while the other wing feathers are all much lighter grey - causing an obvious contrast. The shape in flight is also distinctive, with long, broad wings, long legs dragging behind and it's neck tucked in creating a rounded "neck keel".
Adult
An adult bird has a a long black plume and a white forehead. The bill is orange and there are pinkish tones on the neck. The back of the legs are yellow.
2nd-winter
A 2nd-winter bird would have grey legs, a shorter plume and a grey forehead. In addition to this, it would have a greyish neck.
Juvenile/1st-winter
In this plumage, a bird would have a partly grey bill, a dark crown and a grey neck.
Similar species
Purple Heron
Rare summer visitor to the UK, with a handful of breeding records. When perched they are easily distinguished from Grey Heron by the more reddish colour.
In flight
A Purple Heron is most difficult to distinguish from a Grey Heron when in flight. The "neck keel" is much more angular, as oppose to the rounded "neck keel" of a Grey Heron. The bill is much narrower, and the head is flatter - the change from head to bill is much less obvious in Purple Heron. In flight a purple Heron will often have it's toes spread.
